Va. Tea Party Says City Favors Occupy Protesters

RICHMOND, Va. — A Virginia tea party group is demanding a refund of about $10,000 from the city of Richmond, claiming it was charged unfairly for rallies while Occupy protesters have used the same space for several weeks for free.

The political organization is sending the city an invoice for the charges incurred for three rallies it sponsored in Kanawha Plaza over the past three years. The Occupy protesters have been camped in the plaza since Oct. 15.

Richmond Tea Party spokeswoman Colleen Owens says it's not fair that her group had to pay fees for permits, portable toilets, and police and emergency personnel. The group also had to buy a $1 million insurance policy.

The Atlanta Tea Party has raised similar complaints about Occupy Atlanta protests.